[April 19, 2023] That day, the senior NCO on duty gave me a simple choice. I was transitioning out of the U.S. Army as an enlisted man, and it was August, a very hot and sweltering day. I could see Soldiers outside mowing the grass on the grassy parade field next to the building where I sat. I could see the sweat pouring off those young men, clearly uncomfortable out in the heat of midday. “You can go to interview with our National Guard representative, or you can help outside with the grass.” As we say in the military, “It was a no-brainer decision.”
I don’t remember his name or much about the Guard NCO that day. I was interested in getting the heck out of the Army and returning to college, where I was accepted a few months before my discharge. I remember sitting in his air-conditioned office, listening to the sales pitch. I was getting out. I’d heard this dog and pony show before.
The Guardsman told me of their mission to respond to natural disasters, like the hurricane that had just devastated southern Louisiana. But my personal mission was to go to college and complete a degree in Engineering. Helping southern Louisiana was not on my to-do list, but I also never forgot what the Guard NCO told me that hot day about the failure of the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the corrupt city officials of New Orleans.
Fast forward two decades later, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in August of 2005. It would become the most damaging and intense hurricane to land in the Gulf area of the U.S. By that time, I was a senior Army Engineer Officer. I was asked to apply my engineering experience to help the city of New Orleans. I was about to make another “no-brainer” decision. This time, the answer was “yes.”
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Great article, a no brainer.
Occasionally we get easy choices in life but often the answer is ‘obvious’ ONLY after the decision is made, not before. That is partly what Gen. Satterfield is saying here. There are always easy answers, beware of the easy way out.
mainer, you da man
“55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
Get your copy now from Amazon and read it and leave a review. This is one hell of a great book that can help you be a better person if you are willing to do the work to be better and you have the discipline to make it work. Get you copy now. And, once you read it, you will better understand both this article and this website that Gen. S has created.
docwatson, you are obviously well read and know a great book when you read it. Everyone should be getting a copy of “55 Rules for a Good Life” by Gen. Doug Satterfield. You will never regret it. Get extra copies and send to your family members.
Sometimes decisions are easy (aka a “no-Brainer”) and sometimes not. Gen. Satterfield steps us thru what it’s like when the decision is a no-brainer but the work that follows is very hard and dangerous. Like his many combat tours of duty in war in Iraq. Anyone who can withstand that much duty deserves our respect and our admiration. Gen. S. keep up the wonderful work you are doing and I look forward to the day you write another book.
Yeah, if you get word on his next book, Army Capt, then let us know.
Another story. Another excellent and compelling blog post.
Good thing we have Gen. Satterfield and now helping the corrupt, Democrat, “racists” city of New Orleans out of their own self-created problems and the US Corps of Engineers who are too politically feeble minded to overcome the corruption of that city. When politicians stick money in their pockets (like Pres Joe Biden and his criminal family), corruption becomes the only goal – well maybe power too – and everyone but them is screwed. Stay the course, Gen. Satterfield. Continue doing good things despite the corruption of politicians.
I’ve been to New Orleans, mostly to see the city as a circus and it is, indeed, a circus. Everybody is out to get on top of everyone else. If you live there, leave now. But don’t move to southside Chicago, East St. Louis, or the Bronx NY. Those cities are just like New Orleans and run by Democrats that are fully corrupt.
Right, but as Gen. S notes, sometimes you just gotta help people even when their community leaders are out to lunch.
New Orleans is still part of America and we help Americans.
Yep, but remember that it is in spite of their corruption.
Gen. Satterfield is an American Patriot. Let us never forget that.
“Why I’m an American Patriot”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/why-im-an-american-patriot/
We need more like him.
a No-Brainer decision, of course for Gen. Satterfield … perhaps … but less of an easy decision for the less experienced and under educated.
— that’s our Gen. Satterfield. Combat veteran and spokesMAN for all good people.
Is that a sexist remark? ha ha ha ha …. wait, you’re a woMAN. Now who would know. Thanks Georgie for making my day. 😎
You gals make me laugh. LOL